LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington Pride Festival kicked off at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza on Sunday in a return to relative normal during Pride Month.
What You Need To Know
- 2022 marks the 14th year for the Lexington Pride Festival
- The last “normal” festival was held in 2019 before the pandemic and they’re back with a more normal festival in 2022
- Organizers said entertainment, resources and organizations were set up to help people celebrate
- People attending said supporting those in the LGBTQ community is very important in today’s times
The festival’s chair, Jeremy Ellis, said it wasn’t always set up downtown.
“It started on a private farm, because people didn’t have the visibility that they had before. So a nice group of people just formed a picnic essentially and got people out there because the sense of community is really important,” Ellis said.
The festival has blossomed over time, which those in attendance said shows a step in the right direction in allowing all walks of life to enter a safe, inclusive space.
Ellis said current events, such as the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn the long-standing Roe v Wade decision, are things people of all kinds could be affected by.
“I think LGBTQ and queer people need to remain vigilant and just be aware that even though that that decision may not have directly impacted them, it just shows that the rights we are afforded are just as easily taken away,” Ellis said.
At the festival set up with a booth was Spencer Jenkins. Jenkins said he’s the founder and executive director of Queer KY. The mission behind Queer KY was to give a platform to many voices, and to highlight many of the different people who exist in the LGBTQ+ community in the Bluegrass State and beyond.
Jenkins said reproductive rights impact many people, not just women, and allies are important to helping all voices continue to be heard.
“We need allies so badly because of what is going on in the world right now,” Jenkins said. “We need people to educate the masses on what is going on with queer politics, what’s going on in Frankfort, what’s going on in DC.”
Ellis said the Festival sees tens of thousands of people come through each year—and events like Pride are very important in helping people feel safe and included.
“Every person that’s out here is another person we can reach and let them know about our amazing services and just the community that they have surrounding them,” Ellis said.